Cat tries to kill new kitten

[Irishtara]

Hi cat-companions,

I am truly desperate. It seems my resident 5-year-old female cat is trying to kill my 9-month old male kitten. They are both neutered. The resident cat is very big while the kitten is particularly small.

It's not the first time I am introducing a new cat to the resident cat. I've introduced a junior female cat three years ago and the resident cat really liked her. She sadly passed away from FIP a few months ago.

But the resident cat hates the kitten. The resident cat doesn't make a sound when she approaches or hunts him - she just attacks. The kitten hisses and growls but the resident cat seems unmoved. She's normally not an aggressive cat, at best she gets moody sometimes and takes a swing at the third male cat (he doesn't have an issue with the kitten). She's generally very shy towards people and very submissive when she's being taken out of her normal environment (e.g. vet).

But the resident cat hunts the kitten down, attacks him so badly, I am seriously worried she will kill him. He peed himself twice (he got out of his room faster than I could catch him). This morning the kitten escaped his room and the cat attacked him so badly, She jumped on him once she caught up to him and really buried her teeth in him. I had serious problems getting her off of him. There was lots of his fur everywhere.

I keep them in separate rooms and alternate who can be in the main living room with me and everyone else. But I don't think that's a permanent solution. I have Feliway and pet remedy, I tried to put up a tall baby gate (but the resident cat can easily jump over it)

Can anyone recommend a really, really good cat behaviourist who does virtual consultations (I live in Ireland) and will be able to help? That's the only idea I have.

Thank you for reading

 

[rubysmama]

Hello and welcome to TCS. So sorry though for the reason that brought you here. Quite often when I read "cat fight" threads, things aren't as bad as I expect them to be. But in your case, with your kitten peeing himself, and lots of his fur everywhere, it seems quite serious.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend a cat behaviourist, and honestly, not totally sure they would be able to help. But I've never used one, so probably shouldn't make that assumption.

As for suggestions on how to possibly fix things, I have several questions, but I'll start with these three:

1)How long have you had the kitten?
2)Did your female's aggression start right from the beginning?
3)Did you do a separation and introduction

 

[Irishtara]

Hello and welcome to TCS. So sorry though for the reason that brought you here. Quite often when I read "cat fight" threads, things aren't as bad as I expect them to be. But in your case, with your kitten peeing himself, and lots of his fur everywhere, it seems quite serious.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend a cat behaviourist, and honestly, not totally sure they would be able to help. But I've never used one, so probably shouldn't make that assumption.

As for suggestions on how to possibly fix things, I have several questions, but I'll start with these three:

1)How long have you had the kitten?
2)Did your female's aggression start right from the beginning?
3)Did you do a separation and introduction

Thank you for your reply.
1) almost two months now but I've only started letting him out of his room about 3-4 weeks ago.
2) Yes, absolutely.
3) I might not have done a proper introduction, I don't know. They were separated for a long time, 1 month, before being introduced. I basically introduced them by letting the kitten (well, he's 9 months now, but quite small and she's very big) out of his room and coming into the living room.

Now, I alternate who I let come to the living room. The adult cat has her own room in the bedroom - the kitten isn'tallowed there - and the kitten has his own room as well - the adult cat isn't allowed to go there (anymore). I alternate which door I leave open.

 

[rubysmama]

I guess my only suggestion would be to go back to square 1, and keep them totally separated, and then slowly start introductions again, and see how things go.

Two months isn't a terribly long time in a cat's mind, so hopefully with patience and slow reintroductions, they'll learn to at least co-exist peacefully.

There's more info in these TCS articles:
How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction | TheCatSite
How To Introduce A Kitten To An Older Cat | TheCatSite
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide | TheCatSite
Introducing Cats To Cats | TheCatSite

 

[vince]

Have you tried scent swapping yet? It's worth a try, although I figure that after a couple months in your house, he'd smell like everything in it. Cats are very picky about their common scent, though. Even a trip to the vet sets them off for a while.

 

[Margot Lane]

Please do let us know how you get on in the coming months! I feel for the little fellah! Perhaps the time apart will at least allow him to get a little bigger and fend for himself! I am no expert, but if it were my female cat I would try to tell her in no uncertain terms that this behavior is not tolerated. Baps on the head, loud shouts of “NO!” Possibly even a squirt gun. (And rewards for good behavior). You are the leader of the cat pride. (Anyhow that’s what I’D do, but please check out the above articles). But just to let you know you’re not alone in dealing w/ what sounds like a pretty stressful situation...I’m sure time and patience is partly the key here.

 

[Margot Lane]

Also every kitty likes to think that they are the “best kitty‘; I am sure jealousy is a factor. So if you are speaking in a cute baby voice to the younger, the older might feel put out…good to let her know she is ALso the ‘best kitty.’

 

[ArtNJ]

Do try a real introduction as described in the links. A cat behaviorist would be wasted money, as they wouldn't tell you anything different. For example, the famous behaviorist Jackson Galaxy's introductions guide is very similar to ours. And you didn't do much of an introduction. By keeping them separate for a month, you likely ensured that the older cat was familiar with the kitten's smell, but the visual access step is important too. Take a look at the guide, and the pictures of homemade gates. Store bought baby gates *can* work, but many cats will jump over a single baby gate is why homemade may be the better option.

 

[silent meowlook]

I didn’t read replies so it may have been said. Find a veterinary behavioral specialist. This will be an actual licensed veterinarian that has additional 3 years in behavior. There are not to many of them around. There are allot of people who call them selves behaviorist because last I checked it isn’t a protected title. Good luck. I am sure this is going to require medication for one or both cats.

 

[silent meowlook]

Also want to add that this is not a normal introduction problem. Most cats don’t want to hurt the other cat. They want to make a big show and chase the other off. That isn’t happening here. This is a dangerous situation and the kittens mental well being is at risk not to mention his physical health. Either find qualified veterinary help or regime the kitten and don’t get any more. If you revoke the kitten be extremely careful who he goes to.

 

[rubysmama]

Possibly even a squirt gun.

Just wanted to point out, that even though it's a common suggestion, TCS does not advocate using a water squirt gun for disciplining a cat.
5 Reasons To Never Spray Water On Your Cat [Or otherwise punish them] – TheCatSite Articles

 

[FeebysOwner]

Chiming in - no behaviorist, no punishment (spraying the cat, tapping it on the head, etc.). Follow the advice given by rubysmama , and work through it. There will be some steps forward and some steps backward, but you will get there eventually. Patience & perseverance, without judgement against an animal - who has no idea what judgement is or means - is the key.

 

[Margot Lane]

…definitely listen to them.

 

[danteshuman]

A few things.:
1) You may wind up needing to rehome him and introducing her to a wee baby kitten.
2) I would not even let them see each other for at least a month (use a crate covered in a towel to site swap.) Make sure each cst gets at least 12 hours outside the room each day.
3) Expect this introduction to take at least 3-6 months .... and adjust your goal to her just tolerating him without attacking!
4) What is each cats personality like? It is best to match close to their personalities & energy levels. Some personalities never click; which is why I brought up rehoming him. My gut says if you can find a great home for him, do it. None of any of my cats ever peed themselves in fear ..... even when the cat aggressive stray walked into the house!!!! We made him a garage cat until we could find him a home where he was an only cat. Cats are very tolerant towards baby 3 month old kittens. Which is why I brought up adopting a kitten.
5) If you are serious about keeping him.... get your resident killer queen on some mood stabilizers (like prozac.) It will help her. Best case scenario you can wean her off it in 6-12 months or you realize she really needs it for life so she can live her best life. Prozac can come in a cream you place on her ears & it takes a few weeks to work. If I had known about prozac when my hyper insecure bully Dante was young and bullying his brother a bit .... then later when he terrorized my mom’s senior declawed queen kitty..... his but would have been on prozac so fast!!!!!!
6) female cats are more territorial.
7) your victim cat needs daily play therapy .... one on one play. If they get to that point, lock her out of the room & play with him.... then play with her. Her getting daily play therapy of 15 minutes 1-2 times a day wouldn’t hurt.
8) for every negative interaction or fight they have it will take at least 100 positive interactions to counter that one bad one! So avoid them at all cost. Break it up when she starts doing the stare down. I would use a large piece of cardboard (like 4 feet by 4 feet) to break up her line of sight when she is getting aggressive. A cat doing a stare down is like a human saying “hold my beer” or aggressively pushing someone. You just know it is always going to end in a brawl. So if you see cats staring at each other, break it up at that point.